Associated Press

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.

The Topeka Capital-Journal filed a request seeking more information on the process that went into crafting Governor Sam Brownback's budget proposal. The newspaper asked for all emails between K-State's Institute for Commercialization President Kent Glasscock and state budget director Shawn Sullivan from November through late January.

Issues

7:09 pm

Thu February 12, 2015

A bill to ban a certain type of abortion passed a committee in the Kansas Senate on Thursday. KMUW's Aileen LeBlanc reports...

A proposed ban on a procedure used in about 8 percent of the abortions in Kansas cleared its first major state legislative hurdle Thursday, and abortion providers already are contemplating potential lawsuits.

Government

2:11 pm

Thu February 12, 2015

Governor Sam Brownback's administration is proposing to revise hiring, layoff and termination policies for Kansas government workers and to possibly eliminate longevity bonuses for 17,500 employees.

The state Department of Administration described the initiatives to revise state policies yesterday.

One proposal would give state agencies broader authority to hire employees into non-civil service positions rather than keep those jobs in the civil service system. It requires the Legislature's approval.

Government

2:03 pm

Thu February 12, 2015

Kansas lawmakers are considering changing the way state Supreme Court justices are selected, but lawyers say the move would politicize the court.

The House Judicial Committee conducted a hearing Wednesday on two measures that would amend the Kansas Constitution. One change would select Supreme Court justices in partisan elections, while the other would allow the governor to appoint them.

Representatives of three lawyers' associations told panel that either change would weaken the independence of the judiciary.

Crime and Courts

1:08 pm

Thu February 12, 2015

A federal Drug Enforcement Agency affidavit obtained by the Associated Press says a Mexican cartel is suspected of laundering $2 million dollars in drug proceeds through Plains State Bank in Kansas, to avoid tighter restrictions on U.S. currency in its home country.

A search warrant filed Tuesday in federal court lays out the investigation into alleged money laundering between 2011 and 2014 by a cartel known as the Mexican Mennonites and others.

Gender

11:21 am

Tue February 10, 2015

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office says it has paid outside attorneys nearly $1.2 million dollars to defend anti-abortion laws that have been enacted since January 2011.

The attorney general's office reported Monday that it has paid almost $770,000 to the Lawrence firm of Thompson, Ramsdell & Qualseth for fees and expenses in handling multiple federal and state lawsuits.

Abortion providers sued the state over special regulations adopted in 2011, and over a 2013 law requiring them to post certain material on their websites for women seeking abortions.